“Aye.”
Eve helped place his fingers for the other hand and watched as he did. She then shifted her chair up towards the top of the bed so she had access to his head and shoulders where she pushed on the pressure points.
“Try to keep your breathing regular; don’t hold it.” She pressed her fingers into the back of his head, near the base of his skull and held it for a minute. Then she pinched the middle of his eyebrows and moved to the pressure points on the forehead, working her way along the top of his head. Eve finished by working along his temples and ears. “How’s that?”
Her grandfather opened his eyes for the first time. “You’re a miracle worker, girl.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t come up as soon as I heard you had another headache. This is something I can teach Alan how to do if you’d like.”
“I doubt he has magic fingers like you.”
“Mine comes from practice, and he can learn how to do it too.”
“Bless you. I should be able to sleep now.” Her grandfather closed his eyes again.
“Good night.”
“Hold your horses.” He reached for her hand again and kept her from rising. “I wanted you to know I’m sorry to have missed tea with you.”
“Since you’re having a dinner party tomorrow night, we’ll have another chance. Though you should have warned me before you sent out invitations to your neighbors. We’d planned to leave tomorrow morning.”
“What’s this?” Her grandfather scowled. “You barely got here, and now you plan to leave?”
He looked sincerely distressed, and Eve’s heart gave a little twist at his obvious loneliness. How close had he been to Duncan? Had his loss been that of a friend as well as a son? Was her grandfather close to Graham at all?
“Can I speak plainly?” she asked.
“Sure you can. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Bruce Stewart’s daughter.”
“All right. I don’t know why I’m here representing my father. After meeting Graham, I’m guessing you’re trying to decide if you have a better choice for an heir. While I understand your concern about leaving your property to someone who only wants to sell it, I don’t appreciate my family being used as a pawn.”
Her grandfather watched her, his dark blue eyes which were so like her dad’s catching the lamp’s dim light.
“Aye, you speak the truth,” he finally said, heaving out a breath much as her father did. “’Tis tatties over the side and what am I to do? The boy’s all bum and parsley.”
The despair in her grandfather’s voice twisted Eve’s heart. Graham did seem like a blowhard, but it wasn’talldisaster.
“Now don’t get stressed out again, Granddad, or your headache will get worse again.”
He grinned suddenly, and she glared at him, thinking he’d been playing her.
“Don’t look at me like that. I like the sound of it on your lips.”
“What?” she asked, wary now.
“Granddad.”
The simple words brought tears to her eyes. Eve hadn’t realized she’d said it. She patted his hand.
“But back to your problem with Graham. There have to be options you haven’t considered.”
“Such as?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I’m sure there are things that can be done though, like restrictions in your will or on the deed for the property. I’m surprised you haven’t talked with your solicitor about this.”
“I have, but I wanted to see Bruce again first.”
“You know, now that I think of it, my dad could be just the man you need. He might have some ideas for you.” Eve patted her grandfather’s hand. “Let me think about it and maybe call my father to see if he has any ideas. He won’t talk to you, but I can be your intermediary.”
